Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-18
Conclusion of DR.. Talmage's Sermon Of last
Sunday.

Conclusion Of DR.. Talmage's Sermon Of last
Sunday.
DR.. Talmage preached in his Tabernacle
in Brooklyn last Sunday. The text was
''Watchman, what of the night" We
have space only for the concluding part Of
his sermon, which is as follows
I could give you the history, IN minute,
Of one of the best friends ever had. Out
side of my own family never had better
friend. He welcomed me to my home at
the West. He was of splendid personal ap-
pearance, but he had an ardor of soul and
a warmth of affection that made me love
him like brother. saw men coming out
Of the saloons and gambling hells, and they
surrounded my friend, and they tosk him
at the weak point, his social nature, and ]
saw him going down, and had fair talk
| with him-for never yet saw man you
could not talk with on the subject of his
habits, if you talked with him in the right
way. said to him: "Why don't you give
up your bad habits and become q Chris
tian?" remember now just how he looked
leaning over his counter, as he replied II
wish could. Oh, sir! should like to be a
Christian, but have gone SO far astray /
can't get back"
So the time went on. After s. while the
day of sickness came. was summoned to
his sick bed. hastened. 1t took me but a
very few moments to get there. was sur
prised as / went in. I saw him in his ordi-
nary dress, fully dressed, lying on top of the
bed. I gave him my hand, and he seized it
convulsively, and said: .'Oh, how glad am
to see you! Sit down there" I sat down
and he said: ''Mr. Talmage, just where you
sit now my mother sat last night. She has
been dead twenty years. Now, I don't
want you to think l am out of my mind, or
| that | am superstitieus; but, sir, she sat
there last night just as certainly as you sit
| there now-the same cap and apron, and
spectacles. 1t was my old mother-she sat
| there" Then he turned to his wife, and
said: 81 wish you would take these strings
off the bed; somebody is wrappings strings
around me all the time. wish you would
stop that annoyance" She said: ssThere is
nothing here" Then saw it was delirium.
He said: "Just where you sit now my
mother sat, and she said: Roswell, wish
you would do better--I wish you would do
better l said: Mother, wish I could do
better; try to do better, but can't. Moth
or, you used to help me; why can't you
help me now?' And, sir, got out of bed,
for it was reality, and went to her, aud
threw my arms around her neck, and said:
Mother, will do better, but you must
help; can't do this alone. - knelt down
and prayed. That night his soul went to
the Lord that made it.
Arrangements were made for the obse-
quies. The question was raised whether
they should bring him to the church
Somebody said: "YOu cannot bring such
dissolute man as that into the church" l
said: "You will bring him in church; he
stood by me when he was alive, and will
stand by him when he is dead. Bring him."
As l st God in the pulpit and saw them ear
rying the body up the aisle, felt as if 1
could weep tears of blood.
On one side the pulpit sat his little child
of eight years, sweet, beautiful little girl
that l have seen him hug couvusvely in
his better moments. He put on her all the
jewels, all diamonds, and gave her all pic
lures and toys, and then he would go away
as if bounded by an evil spirit, to his cups
and the house of shame-a fool to the cor |
rection of the stocks She looked up won
deringly. She knew not whatit all meant.
She was not old enough to understand the |
sorrow of an orphan child.
On the other side the pulpit sat the men |
who had ruined him; they were the men
who had poured the NORWOOD into the or
phan's cup; they were the men who had
bound him hand and foot. I knew them.
How did they seem to feel? Did they weep?
No. Did they say, "What pity that so
generous man should be Destroyed" No.
Did they sigh repentingly over what they
had done? No; they sat there, looking as
vultures look at the carcass of a lamb whose
heart they have ripped out So they sat
.s,I In ~O1 - h. II II
the Judgment of God was upon those who
form? was told they were in the places of
iniquity that night after my friend was laid
in lakewood Cemetery, and they blasphem-
ed and they drank. Oh! how merclless
men are, especially after they have de-
| stroyed you! Do not look to men for COM
fort or help. Look to God.
| But there is a man who will not reform
He says: 81 won't reform" Well, then,
how many acts are there in tragedy? I
! believe five.
| Act the first of the tragedy: A young man
starting off from home; parents and sisters
| weeping to have him CO. Wagon rising
over the hill. Farewell kiss flung back.
| Ring the bell and let the curtain fall.
Act the second: The marriage altar Full
organ. Bright lights. Long white veil
trailing through the aisle. Prayer and
coDgratulation, and exclamation of ''How
| well she looks!''
Act the third: A woman waiting for stag
gering steps. Old garments stuck into the
broken windowpane. Marks of hardship
on the face. The biting of the nails of
bloodless fingers. Neglect and cruelty,
and despair. Ring the bell and let the cur
tain drop.
Act the fourth: Three graves in dark
place-grave of the child that died for lack
of medicine, grave of the wife that died of
a broken heart, grave of the man that died
of dissipation. Oh! what blasted heath
with three graves! Plenty of weeds, but
no flowers. Ring the bell and let the cur
tain drop.
Act the fifth: A destroyed souls eternity.
No light. No music. No hope. Anguish
| coiling its serpents around the heart
Blackness of darkness forever. But l can
not look any longer. Woe! woe! l close
my eyes to this last act of the tragedy.
Quick! Quick Ring the bell and let the
curtain drop. ."Rejoice, o, young man, in
thy youth and let thy heart rejoice in the
days of thy youth; but know thou that for
all these things God will bring you into
Judgment" ''There is a way that seemeth
right to a man, but the end thereof is
DEATH
Remember, Democrats, that the election
is near at hand. Be sure that you will go
to tho nails and do vour dnfv